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Are you a new landlord? You'll need to draw up an Illinois lease agreement to help define the rules for tenants renting your residential property. However, knowing exactly what to include in these legal documents can be confusing, which is why we've devised a simple guide to help you create a rental agreement.
Types of Leases
Here is a list of the types of leases you can use in Illinois:
- Illinois sublease agreement - an agreement made when a landlord agrees to let a tenant rent the property to another tenant
- Standard agreement - a basic agreement that applies to residential properties
- Illinois roommate agreement - an agreement that details the rules regarding roommates in a rental property
- Month-to-month - lease term is one month
- Illinois commercial lease agreement - created when leasing commercial space
What to Include
According to landlord-tenant laws, landlords must include certain information in the rental agreement. When creating your rental agreement, be sure to include the following information:
- Personal information of the tenant and landlord (as well as the property manager if this applies
- The physical address of the tenant's rental unit
- Disclosures
- The eviction process and what happens when the lease expires
- Information about security deposits and how they will be handled
- The procedure for lease termination
- Monthly rent price and the date that the tenant will be required to pay rent
- Warranty of habitability and repair - the terms for maintaining the property
You can find out more about the Illinois rental laws here.
Mandatory Disclosure
When creating your Illinois rental lease agreements, there are certain things that state and federal law requires landlords to disclose. They are:
- Lead-based paint. The presence of the hazard posed by lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 must be disclosed.
- Radon hazard disclosure. If a rental unit is located on the first or second floor of a building, the occupants could be exposed to radon gas, which can have adverse health effects. You will have to disclose this in the lease agreement if it applies.
- Shared utilities. Suppose the property does not have a separate utility meter. In that case, it is essential to disclose the breakdown for the shared utilities to ensure that the tenant understands how they will pay for their utility usage.
Free Downloads
You can download a standard agreement from the eForms website. We've included links to these documents below:
- Standard rental agreement - MS Word Version | PDF Version
- All Illinois lease agreements
Custom Contract
Suppose these free forms don't work for you. In that case, you'll need a reliable lease agreement builder.
Your first option is the eForms rental contract builder. Follow the prompts to create a basic customized lease contract.
Build Your Own
Another option is to use the DoorLoop creation tool. This tool will allow you to create professional contracts with a few clicks!
It also has an autofill function that reduces the time it takes to make a custom lease agreement, and you can send the agreement via the platform to your tenant.
DoorLoop is an innovative tool for landlords that can help you manage, track, and receive payments. The software also has a number of other features that you'll find incredibly valuable for your rental business.
To learn more about DoorLoop, schedule a demo and see it for yourself.
eSignature
Are you able to get leases created and signing in just a few clicks?
DoorLoop makes it easier than ever to create and sign leases for your property. With it, it's easy to save reusable lease templates and autofill a tenant's details wherever needed.
After the lease agreement is created, it just takes one click to request eSignatures from your new tenants.
How can you make sure you're finding the best tenants? DoorLoop syncs with websites like Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, Apartments.com, and others so that you can market your listings and bring in prospects on autopilot.
You can also make sure you're bringing in the highest quality tenants by screening your prospects in seconds through an integration with TransUnion.
To see if DoorLoop is right for you, learn more or schedule a free demo.
Final Thoughts
Rental agreements are legal documents that protect the rights of landlords and tenants. They set the tone for your rental experience, so great care should be taken when creating them.
If you need to draw up a rental agreement, you'll need to ensure that it meets federal and state laws. Using our helpful guide and DoorLoop, you can create professional, custom rental contracts and stay on top of your rental business.
FAQs
How long do landlords have to return a security deposit?
According to Illinois law, landlords must repay a tenant's deposit 30 to 45 days after their tenants have moved out. This will depend on whether the tenant contests deductions from the security deposit for damaged property or if the landlord provides receipts and statements.
Is an Illinois commercial lease agreement the same as a residential lease agreement?
No, commercial rental agreements apply to Illinois landlords and tenants renting a commercial space, such as a warehouse or space in a shopping mall. A residential lease applies to residential rental units.
Do landlords have to give notice before entering a rented property?
No. State law does not require landlords to provide notice before entering a rental property. However, doing so is strongly advised.
What is an Illinois rental application form?
Before a person can rent property in Illinois, he or she will have to complete a rental application. This free form is offered to persons trying to rent a property.It provides the landlord with information about the potential tenant that will help him or her decide whether the tenant will be able to afford the monthly payments or not.
Free Downloads
